About PlyKea
We make it easy to upgrade flat-pack kitchens and wardrobes from IKEA, Bunnings, Mitre 10 or Cabjaks by making replacement plywood doors, drawer fronts and benchtops. The result is a tailored look with the warmth and detail of custom joinery — without the price tag of a fully bespoke build. By combining standard cabinets with our ply fronts, you get a kitchen or wardrobe that looks great, works well, and feels made to fit your home.
Our story started with a simple frustration — there was no one in New Zealand making plywood kitchen fronts and benchtops that were both well-built and reasonably priced. Rather than settle for what was available, we set up our own workshop in Petone, Wellington, with the goal of creating fronts that combine quality craftsmanship, fair pricing, and a clean modern look.
Every Plykea front is cut from premium FSC-certified birch plywood and finished in-house by our experienced team. Using CNC precision and careful hand-finishing, we produce pieces built to last, with the distinctive exposed ply edge that defines our style.
Fronts can be faced with natural wood veneers such as birch, oak or walnut, or with durable laminates like Polaris and Arpa Bloom. This lets you mix warm timber character with modern colours and finishes, all bonded onto birch ply for strength.
How much will it cost?
Because each order is made to measure, we don’t publish a fixed price list. You can see ballpark examples on this page, but the quickest way to get an accurate figure is to send us your plans for a tailored quote.
Studio kitchen
Fronts, cover panels & toekicks
Natural birch ply from $3,440 to $4,705
Laminate birch ply from $4,950 to $6,075
Benchtops
Natural birch ply from $1,300 to NZ$1,915
Polaris from $1,825 to NZ$2,440
Prices include GST and Wellington delivery. Excludes installation.
Small kitchen
Fronts, cover panels & toekicks
Natural birch ply from $5,275 to NZ$7,210
Laminate birch ply from $7,505 to $8,880
Benchtops
Natural birch ply from $1,595 to $2,215
Polaris from $2,415 to $3,040
Prices include GST and Wellington delivery. Excludes installation.
Medium kitchen
Fronts, cover panels & toekicks
Natural birch ply from $9,180 to $12,400
Laminate birch ply from $13,330 to $15,900
Benchtops
Natural birch ply from $2,370 to $3,580
25mm Polaris from $2,620 to NZ$3,880
Prices include GST and Wellington delivery. Excludes installation.
Large kitchen
Fronts, cover panels & toekicks
Natural birch ply from $13,505 to $17,960
Laminate birch ply from $18,895 to $22,350
Benchtops
Natural birch ply from $3,055 to $4,260
25mm Polaris from $3,420 to $4,670
Prices include GST and Wellington delivery. Excludes installation.
Frequently asked questions
Our workshop and showroom are in Petone, Wellington. Visits are by appointment only — book in to view our materials, handles and benchtops while seeing the workshop in action.
Production usually takes 4–6 weeks from confirmation. Timelines can shift depending on workload and delivery location, so it’s best to check with us for the current lead time.
Because each order is made to measure, we don’t publish a fixed price list. You can see ballpark examples on this page, but the quickest way to get an accurate figure is to send us your plans for a tailored quote.
We ship throughout New Zealand from Petone. We cover every mayor city and town including Auckland, Whangarei, Tauranga, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmsterton North, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin and Invercargill. Everything is securely packed on pallets and shipped flat-pack style, ready for easy handling.
Yes. If you’re working with an awkward space, need taller doors, or want panels outside standard sizing, we can make them as part of your order.
They do. Standard fronts come with hinge cups and fixing holes that align with IKEA, Kaboodle, Mitre 10 or Cabjaks cabinets.
We finish veneers with low-VOC lacquers that resist cracking, fading, and yellowing, while keeping the natural look of the timber. Walnut fronts are given a UV-protective matt lacquer, while other veneers receive a clear matt finish to preserve their tone.
Every door, drawer front and benchtop is built on furniture-grade European birch plywood. We don’t use MDF or particleboard.
Yes, our plywood is 18mm/13ply European furniture grade plywood and is sourced from an FSC-certified supplier.
No, we don’t offer painted fronts. Our range focuses on natural wood veneers and factory-laminated boards from PlyTech, Plymasters, and in-house laminated Deslam, all pressed onto birch ply.
No — we embrace the exposed ply edge as part of the look.
Yes. You can order a benchtop on its own, either for collection from our Petone workshop or shipped anywhere in New Zealand.
Not precisely. Timber veneer is a natural product, so grain and colour vary between sheets and from the sample you see. Variation will also appear between panels within the same kitchen — this is part of the beauty of using real wood.
If your build is running behind, we can hold completed orders for up to one week.
Just a damp cloth with mild soapy water. Avoid bleach or abrasive cleaners to protect the finish.
HPL laminates can also be cleaned with an eraser pad, test first.
Changes are possible up to one week after payment. Small tweaks like hinge or handle positions are free, but adjustments that increase material use will be invoiced. Reductions can’t be refunded after materials are purchased. After one week, a $200 change fee applies, and alterations may affect delivery dates.
Yes — in Wellington we can install directly. For customers in other regions, we can recommend reliable installers or work alongside your builder.